peptide

American  

[pep-tahyd] / ˈpɛp taɪd /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a compound containing two or more amino acids in which the carboxyl group of one acid is linked to the amino group of the other.

---

peptide British  

/ ˈpɛptaɪd /

noun

1. any of a group of compounds consisting of two or more amino acids linked by chemical bonding between their respective carboxyl and amino groups See also peptide bond polypeptide

---

peptide Scientific  

/ pĕp′tīd′ /

1. A chemical compound that is composed of a chain of two or more amino acids and is usually smaller than a protein. The amino acids can be alike or different. Many hormones and antibiotics are peptides.

---

Etymology

Origin of peptide

1905–10; pept(ic) + -ide ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does peptide compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• peptide vs. polypeptide

Example Sentences

The reversal is good news for Hims, which has indicated it is looking to enter the peptide business.

From Barron's • May 11, 2026

Several peptide users described “doing their own research”—a common refrain in the era of D.I.Y. health, referring to scouring the internet and social media for information—to find peptides.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

Look at the amount of people that are like, “I was in a noise band, then I was a house DJ, then I started making modular synth techno, and then I started doing peptide podcasts.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

Closing peptide chains into rings has traditionally required complex and costly chemical techniques, especially when attempted late in drug development.

From Science Daily • Apr. 28, 2026

Moreover, he was privy to a discussion in which the fundamental blunder about the shape of the peptide bond was made.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson